EARLY START ENDS WITH LATE DRAMA

FORT WILLIAM 2 DEVERONVALE 2

SCORERS: Lombardi 1, McKenzie 84 (pen), Ellis 85, Urquhart 88

Two goals in the final five minutes saw high-flying Fort William salvage an unlikely point in a typical end of season tussle which came to life near the end and finished in real controversy circumstances.

Michele Lombardi had the Banffers one-up at the break although a penalty save and another brilliant stop from Fort keeper John Campbell was the only reason that the three points weren’t already in the bag for the visitors.

Ironically Campbell had escaped punishment for scything down Stephen Gauld prior to the spot kick being awarded and this proved to be a big talking point at half time and at the end of the match.

A second penalty kick award for another foul on Gauld saw Mike McKenzie score but a moment of slack defending at the other end allowed the homeside back into the game sixty seconds later and to make matters worse for Vale  equalised two minutes from full time when Sam Urquhart ran onto a through ball looking at least a couple of yards offside to square the tussle.

Captain Steve Dolan was cautioned for his loud protests to the far-side assistant while Michele Lombardi saw a red card flashed at him by referee Baxter after the full time whistle had blown.

Vale with the likes of Mark Chisholm, Mark Smith, Derek Milne and Bryan Dlugonski unavailable took the lead within one minute of the early kick off when Michele LOMBARDI ran onto a Graham Rodger through ball and expertly looped the ball over the advancing John Campbell.

The homeside were at sixes and sevens for the next ten minutes and with the Vale midfield consisting of Dean Cowie and Gary McGowan picking them off at ease it was no surprise when Stephen Gauld broke away only for John Campbell to upend the winger as he attempted to round the keeper.

Amazingly although the ref pointed to the spot the keeper escaped without even a caution and then had bottle to guess the right way and stop (only just) Mike McKenzie’s effort from the spot.

The experienced stopper did it again soon after when he somehow blocked Graeme Watt’s net-bound header from inside the six-yard box after super play on the left from Gary McGowan.

Vale kept up the pressure and on their next raid forward Gauldie played a low ball into the danger area which was inches from reaching Michele Lombardi before the same striker had another go with his head which Campbell was equal to.

Fort took half an hour to finally muster a decent attack but Sam Urquhart’s strike was well watched by Blanchy as it drifted past his left-hand upright.

Scott Fraser sliced a volley wide at the back stick from Gary McGowan’s set-piece and this was followed by a snap-shot from Stephen Gauld who looked to have gained enough space in behind to make it two but didn’t quite have the angle to beat the advancing Campbell.

James Blanchard showed good handling to clutch a strike from Sean Ellis out of the air after seeing it late before Scott Fraser had another chance from a set-piece but bulleted his header a foot over the top again with McGoo the provider.  HT

Steve Dolan playing central defence did well to block a net-bound effort from Hewitt in the early stages of the second half while Scott Fraser was denied at the other end when he met Graeme Watt’s corner, headed beyond John Campbell only for Sean MacDonald to hook the ball off the line.

Another sustained period of pressure from the Banffers saw Dean Cowie eventually shoot wide before a sliced clearance at the other end saw Blanchy almost allow Sam Urquhart a cheap equaliser but the Vale number one recovered just in time to thwart the Aberdonian.

Sean Ellis, who was a serious threat all afternoon, came close for the Lochaber side when he struck a low effort a foot wide from close range but it also showed the confidence of the Fort players who had been on the back foot for a good sixty minutes of the match but still fancied their chances of taking something from the game.

Just as an equaliser may be on the cards the visitors broke upfield and Stephen Gauld was tripped inside the 18-yard box by Sean MacDonald as he ran in on goal.

Mike McKENZIE was brave enough to step up for the second time and made no mistake to put the Vale two up with six minutes remaining.

Sean Ellis pulled one back immediately when a ball down the right flank was poorly dealt with by Magnus Barclay and Scott Fraser allowing Urquhart to cross to the unmarked Ellis who easily tucked the ball beyond the exposed Blanchard.

The goal obviously gave the homeside a great lift and they went on to draw level a couple of minutes later when a long ball in behind the Vale rearguard was pounced on by Sam Urquhart who looked well offside but made an immaculate job of levelling things up with a composed finish.

Michele Lombardi will now miss Vale’s last game of the campaign against Cove next Saturday, which kicks off at mid-day.

TEAMS:

VALE – Blanchard, Barclay, #Dolan (cpt), Rodger, Fraser, McGowan, Gauld, Cowie, McKenzie (Mountford 87), ##Lombardi, Watt

Subs not used: Dlugonski, Carstairs, McKenzie (gk)

REFEREE: B Baxter

VALE STATS:

Shots on – 3

Shots off – 6

Headers on – 3

Headers off – 1

Blocked Efforts – 1

Corners Won – 12

Woodwork - 0

Offside – 8

Approx Attendance – 100

Last Season – 1-6

Ground Condition – Dry but pretty Good

Overhead Conditions – Sunny with a Cool Breeze

Temperature at KO – 14ºC